MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING GANGER CENTER 
Peter Libassi 
General Counsel 
Dept, of Health, Education & Welfare 
Washington, DC 
Dear Mr. Libassi: 
I have been told that the Friends of the Earth are 
pressing their case against modification of the NIH guidelines 
for Recombinant DNA research. I am in flat disagreement on 
straightforward scientific grounds, with the rigid position taken 
by their organization. 
I write to you at this time because my name has appeared 
in various Friends of the Earth literature as a member of their 
Advisory Council. I resigned from this Council on Decent) er 14, 1977, 
because of the civil action suit against HEW then proposed by the 
organization. A copy of my letter to Mr. David H. Brower at that 
time is enclosed herewith. 
NEW YORK. NEW YORK 10021 
TRAFALGAR 9-3000 
Office of the President 
September 29, 1978 
Sincerely . 
Lewis Thomas, M. D 
enc 
[A-410] 
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR CANCER AND ALLIED DISEASES 
SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH 
SLOAN-KETTERING DIVISION, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
